SITE FOR AN ORCHARD. 207 



lands elsewhere, an excess of humidity in the soil will 

 contribute to this disaster; and in such situations we may 

 often observe the most terrible destruction following a 

 great and sudden change of temperature. Exposure to 

 long-continued cold, with severe winds, seems to dry up 

 the juices of the plants, in some instances, and thus effect 

 their destruction. This, in the far North, is believed to 

 be a frequent cause of the evil. The condition of the tree 

 upon the access of severe cold is too important a subject 

 to be lost sight of, and has already been alluded to. 



Of any given variety, the more perfectly dormant the 

 x)lant, and the more complete its condition of hybernation, 

 the greater will be its immunity from this evil. The at- 

 mospheric changes and conditions we can not control, and 

 we can modify them only in a very limited degree, by 

 uedges, by timber-belts, and by evergreen screens, the 

 value of which begins to be appreciated. The state of the 

 soil, as to its moisture, is under our control, and by thor- 

 ough and surface-drainage, we may obviate one very im- 

 portant condition that conduces largely to the injury under 

 consideration the excess of moisture in and upon the 

 ioil. ..%>: 



The more perfect ripening of the wood, is likewise a 

 matter of great moment', and this is also subject to our 

 control, particularly in young trees in the nursery and 

 orchard. 



Certain varieties are much more subject to injury from 

 cold than others. Among these are some of the most 

 thrifty and free growing sorts. There appears to be an 

 inherent quality of hardiness in others, that enables them 

 to resist the most trying alternations of temperature. 



